Landing-mat.



' w. F..BowEns.

LANDING MAT. APPLICATION man MAR. lo. |915.

' Patented Jan.' 4, 1916.y

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UNrTED sfr-Aras WILLIAM F. BOWERS, 0F SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

LANDING-MAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 4., 1916.

Application led March 10, 1915. Serial No. 13,537.

tion.

The present invention relates to landing pads or cushions for use in fire engine houses at the base of the sliding pole, and is adapted to provide a yieldable surface at the base of the pole to prevent accidents when descending the pole.

The invention consists in a suitable rubber pad formed with an interior chamber open to the atmosphere at its side walls and in said chamber are positioned a number of tubular cushioning members which connect with the upper and lower pad surfaces, and are also formed with openings connecting with the interior of the chamber to permit the escape of the air from the tubular cushioning members.

The invention has for its objects to provide a mat formed with a plurality of pneumatic cushioning members on its interior and each provided with an air escape opening which will permit a portion of the air to escape therefrom when pressure is applied to the exterior of the mat by a person landing thereon.

Withthe above mentioned and other 0b- ]'ects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claim hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, pro-'- portion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claim may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

To more fully comprehend the invention reference is directed to the accompanying drawings, whereinp Figure 1 is a broken plan vlew o f an embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 1s a transverse sectional view taken on'line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional vlewv of a portion of the structure disclosed in Fig. 2.

.In the drawings-1 designates' the top Wall, 2 the bottom wall, and ,3 the slde con- -erably circular in coniguration.

necting wall of a suitably shaped mat or cushioning member, preferably formed of rubber or other flexible material, and pref- Thel top andbottom wal-ls 1 and 2 are secured in any suitable manner to the respective upper andv lower edges of the side wall, as by vulcanization, and the sidewall is provided in its surface with one or more vent apertures 4 through which air is admitted into and escapes from the interior chamber 7 ofthe structure. v The structure is formed with a central aperture 5 through which is adapted to extend the slide pole.

Suitable tubular cushioning members or` posts 6 are arranged vertically within the chamber 7 in the mat or cushioning member and the ends of. the iexible walls 8 of the members are secured in any suitable manner,

as by vulcanization to the inner faces of the respective top and bottom walls 2 and 3. .Apertures 9 are formed in the walls 8 of the cushioning members and through said openings air is admitted into and escapes from the interior of the cushioning members.

-It will be apparent that when the feet of the descending firemen contact with the upper surface 1 of the mat, the air contained in the cushioning members 6 will be gradually forced outwardly through the openings 9 in the walls 8 and into the larger chamber 7, and the air in this chamber will gradually pass outwardly through the aperture 4 in the side wall 3, the cushioningmembers serving as individual springs in absorbing the'shock. As soon `as the weight of the firemen passes from the mat, the compressed or distorted walls 8 of the cushioning members will assume their normal position and in doing so will draw lair through the openings lz' into the interior of the cushioning memers.

I have provided a structure formed with a plurality ofv air cushioning devices in an interior chamber and which are adapted,

It is desirable to construct the mat of rubber, but it is to be understood that any suitable flexible material may be employed.

Having thus described my invention what is desired to protect by Letters Patent is A. rubber landing met comprising top, bottom and side Walls, one of said Walls having a, Vent, the top and bottom Walls being spaced lfrom one another, and a, series of tubular members interposed between the top and bottom Walls and united at opposite -having intermediate the ends thereof e Vent. 15

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this speciiction in the presence of twov subscribing witnesses.

y LAM 1F. BQWERS. Witnesses:

W. A. AGREE, D. B. Rios, 

